At Swordfish Software, we recently ran a LinkedIn poll to explore a simple yet fascinating question: Do people use ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ when interacting with AI chatbots like ChatGPT? The results offered a clear message about how users perceive and engage with artificial intelligence.
Poll Results: Manners Still Matter
Our poll drew a strong response, and the majority spoke clearly:
- 68% of respondents said they always use “please” and “thank you.”
- 19% said they use them sometimes.
- 13% said they never bother with pleasantries.
The results suggest that, even in a digital world, human etiquette extends into our interactions with non-human entities. But does it make a difference?
Performance Impact: How Politeness Can Influence Responses
According to experts at Google DeepMind and Microsoft (as reported in the New York Times and Forbes), using polite language like “please” and “thank you” can influence the quality of AI responses. While AI doesn’t have feelings, it is trained on human interactions, and polite phrasing tends to be clearer, more complete, and context-rich, all of which can help generate better results.
As Murray Shanahan of DeepMind explained, AI often mimics human roles (like interns or assistants) and may deliver more refined results when treated with professionalism or courtesy. Similarly, Microsoft Copilot’s design team notes that the tone you use helps set the tone for the response.
The Hidden Cost of Kindness: A Growing Carbon Footprint
However, there’s a growing concern that goes beyond technical performance: the environmental impact of AI usage. As OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed, those extra pleasantries cost OpenAI tens of millions of dollars annually in computing and electricity usage. While that may seem like a manageable cost for a tech giant, the underlying issue is deeper: the increased energy consumption adds significantly to the carbon footprint of AI operations.
AI systems require vast data centres to process and respond to prompts, and each additional word you input adds to the computational load. According to Vice and USA Today, this translates directly into higher electricity demands. Since a large portion of that energy still comes from fossil fuels, even small additions like “please” and “thank you” contribute incrementally to global emissions.
Neil Johnson, a physics professor cited in the New York Times, likened extra words in a prompt to unnecessary packaging around a product, adding weight and requiring more resources to process. Over time, these micro-interactions scale into a much larger environmental challenge. As AI use becomes more embedded in everyday life, from work to education to entertainment, the cumulative environmental impact can no longer be ignored.
Balancing Courtesy and Environmental Responsibility
So, should we all stop being polite to AI? It’s not that simple. Politeness often leads to clearer prompts and better responses, and for many, it’s a reflection of human values and professional tone. But it is worth considering when and why we use these words, especially if efficiency and sustainability are priorities.
One approach could be to reserve pleasantries for when clarity is needed or when interacting with AI in a way that mimics human conversation, such as customer service or coaching. In more task-focused or high-volume environments, being concise might be the more environmentally responsible choice.
Conclusion
Our poll results highlight that politeness is still deeply embedded in how we communicate, even with machines. But as we grow more reliant on AI, it’s important to consider not just what we say, but the broader impact of how we say it. In a world increasingly shaped by technology, even small choices like typing “thank you” carry weight.
At Swordfish Software, we believe thoughtful innovation isn’t just about what technology can do, it’s about how responsibly we use it. We’re committed to building solutions that reflect both human values and a sustainable digital future.
Sources: OpenAI Community Forum, The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, USA Today
